Blue/Orange

“We spend our lives asking whether or not this or that person is to be
judged normal, a ‘Normal’ person, a ‘Human,’ and we blithely assume we
know what ‘Normal’ is – what ‘Human’ is. Maybe he’s more ‘Human’ than
us. Maybe we’re the sick ones.”

A clearly agitated patient claims to be the son of deposed dictator Idi
Amin and that several evil global forces are lurking in every doorway,
ready to take him out. However, he’s due to be discharged from a
psychiatric hospital and passes all the medical standards of normalcy.
As two competing therapists debate his diagnosis with mounting enmity,
he toys with their egos until their judgment and sanity come into
question.

London’s surprise hit of 2000 that went on to sweep the awards
for best play, Joe Penhall’s Blue/Orange asks complex questions about textbook sanity in multi-cultural times while taking a razor sharp look at a healthcare system where arrogance, bureaucracy, personal finances and race decide who finds treatment and who finds themselves back on the street. Biting, funny and incendiary, it posits the question: “aren’t we all self-deluded and only one thought away from insanity?”

“A ferocious comedy, with dialogue fueled by testosterone and paced like
a volley of bullets.”
— The New York Times

Prior to 8:00pm evening performances of Blue/Orange, enjoy the Shakespeare & Company Prelude, featuring a variety of performances to help prepare audiences for the evening’s show.

For dates and showtimes to all of Shakespeare & Company’s 30th Anniversary productions, please click here.